Jacob a



- @uiten gisten stent JACOB A. SHERMAN, AOF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Letters Patent No. 63,565, detect April 2, 1867.

IMIROVEMENT IN TRUSSES.

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TO ALL WHOM I'I MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, JACOB A. SHERMAN, of the city and State of New York,have'invented, made, and applied to use a certain new and usefulImprovement in rIrusses; and I do hereby declare the following to ybe afull, clear, and exact description of the said invention, referencebeing had to the annexed drawing, making part of p. this specification,whereinv Figure 1 is a plan of my improved truss, a portion of thecovering for-the spring being removed. V Figure 2 is an elevation of thetruss spring and pad; and

Figure 3 is a section through the universal joint of the pad.

Similar'marks of' reference denote the same parts.

Difhculty has heretofore been experienced in regulating the pressure ofthe main spring of trusses, and in many instances the springs aresufficiently soft to allow of their being bent, so as to bringthe end ofthe spring carrying the pad nearer to or farther from that portion ofthe truss Spring that extends across the back, and thereby regulate thepressure of the spring.

The nature of my said invention consists in a hinge applied at the bendor'side portion ofthe truss spring, in4 combination with an adjustableslide or other mechanism for holding the two portions of the spring atthe hinge at any desired angle to each other, so that the pressure ofthespring may be adjusted with great facility. And I also make use ofametallic platefwith radiating leaves or ngers for receiving the paddingof the hernial pad. And I also make use of a peculiarly-constructeduniversaljoint to attach the pad to the spring and allow of itsadjustment.

In the drawing., ,a and Z1 are the parts of the spring of the truss. cis the hinge by which they are connected together. d is a loop or clip,through which slides the bar e. The said clip el is provided with aclampingserew, and is attached or applied to one portion ot' the springnear the hinge c, and the end of the bar e is curved inwards. When thebar c is drawn along through the clip cl, the curved end will `bebrought nearer to er farther from the joint c, and. hence thatjoint willbe stilened, 'so that the spring will operate to press the pad to therupture, and according to'the position to which the bar may be slid sothe parts of the spring lwill make a greater or less angle with eachother, and thepressure of the spring bc thereby regulated or adjusted.The slide bar shown is a convenient device for holding the parts of thespring at the hinge, but other means, such as a set-screw or a cam, maybe employed at the hinge to hold the parts of the spring atthe -properangle to each other and adjust the pressure of the pad; and tofacilitate the application of such parts .one end of one spring mayextend past the hinge and lap upon Athe other. The spring is to beenclosed by any suitable covering, from the end of which is'a stru-p tobutton over the stud 2, as usual. The strap 71. is shown as partiallyremoved. 7s is a link attached by the rivet l and screw 2, as usual, soas to be adapted to right or left trusses, At the end of the link c is auniversal or ball joint, z', the neck of which ball passes through thelink k, and is secured by a screw-nut, 3, so as to allow a slightmovement and play te accommodate the motion of'the body. lis the socketfor the ball c', and m is a Vmetal spring plate attached to l, andcarrying the padding n, and o is screw that passes through the ball Itwill now be understood that when the screw o is loosened, the pad n. canbe placed in any desired position tothe spring a 6, and by simplyscrewing in the screw o, the hall is tightened by being pressedoutwardly in its socket, at thesame time the point of the Screw againstthe interior of the socket Z aids the friction. The plate m is slottedradially, so as to form leaves or fingers, to which the padding andcovering are attached, and these yield and cause the pad to accommodatethe surface of the hernia. The spring a b might be formed with more thanone hinge,-so as to increase its facilities for adjustment.

I What I clain, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A truss spring, formed of two or more parts hinged together andretained at the desired angle to each other, substantially as specified,so as to regulate the pressure of the spring, as set forth.

2. I claim the ball joint z', for attaching and adjusting the pad, incombination with the screw 0, passing through said ball and taking theinner surface ofthe cavity, as set forth.` 3.' I claim the plate m,formed with radiating leaves or fingers, to which the padding isconnected, so that t fthey yield and adapt the pad to the surface of thehernia, as set forth. v v

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my signature this eighteenth dayof Muy, A. D. 1866.

' J. A. SHERMAN.

Witnesses:

Guo. D. WALKER, Cms. H. SMITH.

